Forbidden Miss Foster

Chapter 1

"Sssh Evie , you'll see Aunty Cate in half an hour so just do me a favour and zip it.."

And with that she stops , earning a satisfied smile and sigh from myself. I then start up the engine , release the clutch and reverse our of my driveway.

———

"Morning , Miss.." Jacob greets me at the gate. Poor boy always get's dropped off by his mother so unnecessarily early , I almost feel bad for him , that is until I remember that one time he threw a pen at me last year and practically poked my eye out.

"Morning , love.." I reply , my tone of voice monotone and uninterested.

I push open the door to the history block , let go of Evie's leash and allow her to run around the various classrooms until she finds Cate , who for the purpose of her promotional duties this year , now get's into school even earlier than I do. Knowing that Evie's in good hands , I unload my paperwork into the office and dump my personal belongings at my desk. I promise myself at the end of each year that I'll have it cleaned , as I feel there's nothing better than coming back to a clean workspace. But in reality , I can never bring myself to do it.
Amongst the mountain of old paperwork and tests I should've marked over the summer , I just don't know where I'd even start.

"Morning , Sunshine.." I hear Cate say from behind me.

I turn around and smile when I see Eviie content in her arms , being given endless strokes and pets from Cate as always.

I roll my eyes with a smile and exhale heavily , taking off my coat and hanging it on the back of my chair.

"The kids aren't even in yet?" , she said , chuckling.

I shove my hands in my pockets and lean back against the desk. "I feel like I'm functioning at 40% capacity.." I said with a tired smile.

"Charlotte?" Cate asked.

I shake my head immediately , my ex wasn't even in the back of my mind anymore , she screwed shit up and I wasn't prepared to put myself through that again. I've practically erased her from my life at this point , and happy about it to say the least .

"Trust me , we're over entirely.." I reassured her.

Cait  stuck by me all throughout the break up , bless her. She has a husband and kids of her own , but almost every other night for about a month , her and Christine were at my house , at least one of them having come prepared with a bottle of red wine and both of them having come prepared to listen to me rant about it for hours. I'll always love her for that.

"Thank god..So what's wrong?" , she questioned , putting Evie back down and letting her roam around the office.

"Dad's funeral..Christine thinks we should go.." I said , with a sigh.

Cate's eyebrows furrow slightly and I can see the confusion in her face. "I thought you said you hadn't spoken to your dad for like a decade?"

I nod , "I haven't..She just thinks that because we're some of the only close family he has , that we should at least show up.."

"Well are you going to?" , she asks.

"I don't know yet , we'll see.." I say , dismissing the conversation all together as it was far too early to delve deep into family trauma. "I'm going to set up my classroom , can you watch Evie for fifteen minutes?"

"Course I can.." , she says with a smile. "Come on Evie , come with Auntie Cate.." , she beckons her in her obnoxious and high-pitched 'I'm speaking to a dog' voice.

I smile and shake my head before picking up my laptop bag and leaving the office. Out of my pocket I pull out the key for my classroom and unlock the door. The room hasn't been used for six weeks and you can tell as soon as you walk in , it smells of damp carpet and dust , and above all else it's freezing cold.